I can't blame him for signing with NYY, he clearly needs the extra 8 million. *rolls eyes*

I guess they were embarrassed when the red sox showed them up at the bank when they got Dice-K, so this is their retaliation - it's all Steinbrenner/Cashman envy. Who has the bigger bankroll, if you get my drift... ;-)

Now, AL and NL Central are obviously very different, but holy crap, when Clemens drags his fat ass out of bed, he's dominating.

Also, fortunately for us, Oswalt is probably the best pitcher in the NL, and they're both righties playing at the same park.

Oz:141152133

Let's try Webb:124154114

Any way you slice it, Clemens is ridiculously good out there, like another species compared to the elite of the NL.

Now, about Clemens vs. Matsuzaka, the obvious difference is that Clemens has had tremendous success in the AL (a top 5 season all-time for example), while Matsuzaka to this point has been nothing short of disgraceful. Matsuzaka can still turn it around, and he damn well better, but Clemens is obviously a much better pickup right now. I certainly wish we weren't throwing $20m a year at that kid right about now, and I used to be a huge Matsuzaka supporter.

When it comes down to it, I look forward to a Tavarez start more than a Matsuzaka start. When Tavarez craps the bed, which he hasn't in two straight starts, at least it's expected. For our 2nd highest expenditure player to have as many quality starts as our long reliever-turned-5th-starter, yeah, that's a disgrace.

He's not as bad as Igawa, but it's a lot closer than I would've liked.

With all those others, we have the benefit of more than six starts to judge from.

That's all I'm saying. No point in passing judgement until we have sufficient data. There is no way to know, at this point, if Dice-K's performance represents an aberration or not. He certainly started out well enough, and even in the games where he's had trouble, it's been a temporary thing. Sounds very fixable to me.

If things continue this way, sure - the Sox overpaid. But I think it's premature to make that judgement.

Sean, I consider myself a half full is half full type of guy but dude you make me look like Rosy Glasses. So, lets correct a few things:

1) Matsuzaka was signed for six years 103 / 6 is not 20 million.

2) Like Chief said, small sample size. Yes Nomo and those did better when they first came over but they do not have his stuff, never did never will. Matsuzaka will be fine.

3) The biggest Yankee fan out there is Mike Fransesca from WFAN and he hates this signing. Desperation drove this, Cashman was on the fan and admitted that they made Clemens an offer of 25 million during spring training.

Here's another ruling: it is pointless to discuss Dice-K with Sean. His mind is made up, because he personally saw Matsuzaka get "annihilated" and then "creamed" (although I may have reversed the adjectives Sean applied to his first two starts).

So the rest of us who are still excited about Matsuzaka and expecting more from him, should just sit back and enjoy all the I-told-you-so opportunities in our future.

I will be in front row above the bullpen for Wednesday (secn 105) - talking to the bullpen...i need to give my tips! (Curveballs to Wells in the dirt he always chases!) hahaha....

I'm in 113A row 5 for Thursday, I'm stoked for Wake, I don't think I've seen him before. I wish I could sit right behind the plate for this game, the knucklers...I know when I sat behind the plate for Dice-K last time, the view of the pitch movement was phenomenal.

PS: I also plan on bringing a sign to the Wednesday game to hang above the bullpen...something along the lines of: "I steal satellite because Ted Rogers doesn't offer NESN"...and going to tape the NESN game and want to get on it and hear Orsillo/Remys comments, if any.

On another note, this incredible, incredible line from the Dayton paper:

"Wayne [Krivsky] came to me in the spring and said he could get (pitcher) Bronson Arroyo for an outfielder — Wily Mo Pena, Adam Dunn or Austin Kearns," said Barton. "Turns out Boston wanted Wily Mo, and that was fine because we had an extra outfielder.""

We could've had Dunn. Papi/Manny/Dunn makes for the most incredible heart of the order in decades, 3 straight people who hit 30 homers.

The problem with Wily is that he does not have a chance to develop as a hitter. He only gets to play once every few days....this is the way that I see Wily Mo...he'll either hit it 500 feet or K. He gets a fastball and he'll whack it, but any offspeed pitch he's going to whiff at.

He's going to be a solid hitter, better than Dunn, but just needs to develop his swing more and learn to hit more than a fastball. Once Manny inevitably moves on, like you know will happen, he will be the new replacement in LF. His fielding will improve, and I really think that once an everyday player, he will be the new #3 or 4 hitter.

knowing my luck, the jays will start a hot streak wednesday behind a stellar start from okha and no red sox run support for dice-k or wake...dammit, i'm going to see dice-k and wake! they better score more than 1 run in both games!